Man on work permit in court for ganja

The consequences of criminal convictions were spelled out again in Summary Court on Tuesday when a man on work permit pleaded guilty to consumption and possession of ganja along with possession of utensils. After Daniel Nelson Barker, 31, entered his pleas, Chief Magistrate Margaret Ramsay-Hale asked him about himself. He said he was from the US, was on a work permit as a manager and had been here for two years.

The magistrate asked why he came to Cayman. He told her he enjoyed the life here — he had come to visit, liked it and applied for a job.

The magistrate replied, “I can tell you with certainty your work permit will not be renewed and if you liked living here you will lose [that right]. Was it worth it?” she asked. Barker said no and agreed his actions had been a huge error in judgment. He also volunteered that he had signed up for counselling as a result of the incident.

No details were aired in court. However, the charges reveal that the ganja and utensils were found inside Barker’s West Bay residence on 15 April. The weight of the ganja was .573 of an ounce. The utensils used in the consumption of a controlled drug were a vapour box pipe, a rolling king cigarette roller and a space case grinder.

The magistrate said Barker would have to bear the costs of all the lab tests as well as pay fines, so his total penalty was $2,242.

As a result of those findings, officers would have requested a urine sample for testing. Laboratory certificates would confirm that the sample was positive for ganja and would also specify the weight and identity of the vegetable matter.

The magistrate told Barker that the demand for and supply of illegal drugs has caused enough of a social problem in Cayman without a foreigner coming here and adding to it. As someone on a work permit, he should have considered that he was in another man’s country and behaved accordingly.

“I cannot accept it was worth destroying your character to get high. You have lost a wonderful opportunity,” she told him.